Fort Street Presbyterian Church
Encyclopedia
The Fort Street Presbyterian Church is a religious structure located at 631 W. Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan
. It was originally constructed in 1855, and completely rebuilt in 1876. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971. Its steeple stands 265 ft. (81 m).
, and soon established a place among the leading architects of the city. In the mid-1850s, despite a membership of only 167 people, the Second Presbyterian congregation hired Albert and Octavius Jordan to design a new, larger church. The location the congregation picked was on Fort Street
just west of downtown; Fort Street at that time was a fashionable residential area, boasting homes of such Detroit notables (and congregation members) as Russell A. Alger
, James F. Joy (Henry B. Joy's father), Theodore S. Buhl, Henry D. Shelden, and Zachariah Chandler
. After the move, the congregation changed their name to the "Fort Street Presbyterian Church."
The original church was completed in 1855 at a cost of $70,000. The construction cost prevented the congregation from fully finishing the interior until 15 years later, when the gallery and pews conforming to the original design were installed.
However, the building was destroyed by fire in 1876, completely demolishing the interior, destroying the roof, and sending the spire crashing onto Fort Street. The church was rebuilt according to the original architectural plan
s the following year. Another major fire in 1914 again destroyed the roof, but the church was again rebuilt, and it remains as it had been designed by the Jordan brothers in the mid-1850s. Upon completion, the current church with its steeple at 265 ft. (81 m) ranked as the tallest building in the city and state from 1877 to 1909.
The interior of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church features a three-aisle nave and a horseshoe balcony capable of seating almost 1,000 people. The pews are of hand-carved black walnut. The baptismal font is constructed of Caen stone
, supported by onyx
columns imported from Mexico. The solid brass lectern, in the shape of an eagle, was exhibited in 1893 at the Chicago World's Fair
. Tiles dotting the stone floor are early works of Mary Chase Perry Stratton
, founder of Pewabic Pottery
.
The church organ was built by in 1914 by Wangerian-Weickhardt, and contains 3,253 pipes ranging in length from 1/4 inch to 16 feet. It incorporates a small portion of the original 1855 organ.
troops west of the Alleghenies.
Membership grew steadily up through the middle of the Great Depression
; however, membership, revenue, and attendance fell off afterward. In the early 1940s, plans were afoot to close the expensive church and perhaps pool with other congregations to open a combined church elsewhere in the city. However, World War II
intervened. During the war, the church converted the gymnasium of the Church House into a dormitory for servicemen who were arriving at the train station then across the street. By wars end, the church had provided transient accommodations for 60,000 men.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was originally constructed in 1855, and completely rebuilt in 1876. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971. Its steeple stands 265 ft. (81 m).
Early history
The lot for the church was purchased from Mr. Shadrack and Mary (Stead) Gillett, whose home was located there prior to the contsruction of the church. The population of Detroit grew rapidly in the 1830s and 1840s, in particular bringing an influx of English Protestants to the city. In 1849, the Reverend Robert Kellogg organized the Second Presbyterian Church, which had 26 charter members at that time. The congregation met for worship in the old Capitol building until they a church was constructed on the corner of Lafayette and Wayne the next year.Construction and reconstruction
In 1852, Albert Jordan and his brother Octavius arrived in Detroit from Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, and soon established a place among the leading architects of the city. In the mid-1850s, despite a membership of only 167 people, the Second Presbyterian congregation hired Albert and Octavius Jordan to design a new, larger church. The location the congregation picked was on Fort Street
Fort Street
Fort Street may refer to:*Fort Street, North Point, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong*Fort Street , a Michigan highway*Fort Street High School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia*Fort Street Mall, Downtown Honolulu, Hawaiij...
just west of downtown; Fort Street at that time was a fashionable residential area, boasting homes of such Detroit notables (and congregation members) as Russell A. Alger
Russell A. Alger
Russell Alexander Alger was the 20th Governor and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan and also U.S. Secretary of War during the Presidential administration of William McKinley...
, James F. Joy (Henry B. Joy's father), Theodore S. Buhl, Henry D. Shelden, and Zachariah Chandler
Zachariah Chandler
Zachariah Chandler was Mayor of Detroit , a four-term U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan , and Secretary of the Interior under U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant .-Family:...
. After the move, the congregation changed their name to the "Fort Street Presbyterian Church."
The original church was completed in 1855 at a cost of $70,000. The construction cost prevented the congregation from fully finishing the interior until 15 years later, when the gallery and pews conforming to the original design were installed.
However, the building was destroyed by fire in 1876, completely demolishing the interior, destroying the roof, and sending the spire crashing onto Fort Street. The church was rebuilt according to the original architectural plan
Architectural plan
An architectural plan is a plan for architecture, and the documentation of written and graphic descriptions of the architectural elements of a building project including sketches, drawings and details.- Overview :...
s the following year. Another major fire in 1914 again destroyed the roof, but the church was again rebuilt, and it remains as it had been designed by the Jordan brothers in the mid-1850s. Upon completion, the current church with its steeple at 265 ft. (81 m) ranked as the tallest building in the city and state from 1877 to 1909.
Architecture
The Fort Street Presbyterian Church is an ornately detailed Gothic Revival structure built of limestone ashlar from Malden, Ontario. The facade features a 265-foot (81 m) tall square tower with spire on one side with a shorter octagonal turret (modeled after King's College Chapel in Cambridge) on the other. A central stained glass window illuminates the sanctuary. There are seven bays along the side of the church with flying buttresses, crocketed finials, lacy stonework and tall windows, designed to give the impression of lightness.The interior of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church features a three-aisle nave and a horseshoe balcony capable of seating almost 1,000 people. The pews are of hand-carved black walnut. The baptismal font is constructed of Caen stone
Caen stone
Caen stone or Pierre de Caen, is a light creamy-yellow Jurassic limestone quarried in northwestern France near the city of Caen.The limestone is a fine grained oolitic limestone formed in shallow water lagoons in the Bathonian Age about 167 million years ago...
, supported by onyx
Onyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
columns imported from Mexico. The solid brass lectern, in the shape of an eagle, was exhibited in 1893 at the Chicago World's Fair
Chicago World's Fair
Chicago World's Fair may refer to:*World's Columbian Exposition of 1893*Century of Progress Exposition of 1933...
. Tiles dotting the stone floor are early works of Mary Chase Perry Stratton
Mary Chase Perry Stratton
Mary Chase Perry Stratton was an American ceramic artist. She was a co-founder, along with Horace James Caulkins, of Pewabic Pottery, a form of ceramic art used to make architectural tiles.-Early years:...
, founder of Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery is a studio and school located in Detroit, Michigan and founded in 1903. The studio is known for its iridescent glazes, some of which grace notable buildings such as the Shedd Aquarium and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Pewabic Pottery is on display...
.
The church organ was built by in 1914 by Wangerian-Weickhardt, and contains 3,253 pipes ranging in length from 1/4 inch to 16 feet. It incorporates a small portion of the original 1855 organ.
Significance
The Fort Street Presbyterian Church exemplifies an important step in the rise of "revivalist" architecture in 19th centure America. American architect of the mid-19th century imported and re-interpreted the English Gothic Revival style, based on the visually lush details of Medieval cathedrals. The American architects copied the "Gothic" elements and combined them with simple building plans to create an American architectural style known as "Victorian Gothic." The Jordan brothers subscribed to this ethic, and their Fort Street Presbyterian Church, as well as being one of Michigan's oldest churches, is a premier example of Victorian Gothic architecture. The church has remained essentially unchanged despite fires the in 1877 and 1914.Later history
In the early 20th century, the church began focusing more on social service programs, as people of more modest incomes moved into the surrounding, formerly aristocratic, area. In 1908, James Joy donated property adjoining the church, and Mrs. Oren Scotten gave $50,000 to pay for the construction of the Church House. This enabled the church to minister to the newer congregants, and the church used the gymnasium in the Church House as a kind of "health club," enrolling men, women, and children in gym classes. The church also sponsored one of the first Boy ScoutBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
troops west of the Alleghenies.
Membership grew steadily up through the middle of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
; however, membership, revenue, and attendance fell off afterward. In the early 1940s, plans were afoot to close the expensive church and perhaps pool with other congregations to open a combined church elsewhere in the city. However, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intervened. During the war, the church converted the gymnasium of the Church House into a dormitory for servicemen who were arriving at the train station then across the street. By wars end, the church had provided transient accommodations for 60,000 men.
Further reading
- Dana Lee Robert, Occupy Until I Come: A.T. Pierson and the Evangelization of the World , Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0802807801. (Pierson was a pastor of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church)